Pregnant and Struggling with Bulimia

I feel so selfish for being bulimic while I am pregnant. I know this is serious! I was an active bulimic before I found out I was pregnant. The thing most people don't know about bulimics is that they love food and can't stop eating it once they start. Then after they consume the food they have anxiety over becoming fat which is why they vomit.

Once I found out I was pregnant I stopped vomiting, but now I keep getting the urges to purge after I binge. I do admit I have given in a couple of times after I ate a massive quanity. I make sure I keep down what a normal person would eat on a day to day basis. I have already gained 9 pounds since I have become pregnant and i have only entered my second trimester today. I am just at a loss right now and feeling so guilty.

I have been to the doctor and she says the baby is very healthy thus far.

Are you in counseling? You need to see someone about this ASAP. This can kill you. I can't imagine how much harder it is on your body (and your baby's) when you're pregnant. Please get some help with this. You don't need to fix this on your own.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. In a way, I understand how you feel because I just lost 63 pounds and then birth control failed me. I'm pretty upset about gaining weight. I think that you should tell your ob what you're dealing with and also speak to a psychologist. Dealing with your bulimia needs to be done. Not just for your pregnancy, but for your health (you need to be healthy and well for your child), but also for once your child is born. You don't want to see your child suffer the same fate. Get the help you need for yourself and your baby. I wish you well!

As a post gastric bypass patient with weight issues, I can total understand how you are feeling. In fact I lost an additional 40pds last year and felt good because I maintained it the whole year. But then I got pregnant, and I have gained about the same amt as you and Im going on 13wks. But as mothers one thing we learn is that our babies come first. Its normal to gain weight during pregnancy and honestly most people return to the pre pregnancy weight shortly after. Try not to stress about it, but definitely get some type of counseling because pregnant or not, your disorder can be deadly. Also, is there anything that you can binge on that does not make you feel guilty? Like fruits & veggies

hi, im visitning from the nov. 2011 birth club. and i just found out i am expecting again. i just want to let you know you are not alone. i have been bulimic since i was 15 (my mother, has been bulimic her whole life.) i stopped purgining when i was pregnant with my first, and gained alot of weight (50 pounds) and after i had the baby, i slowly went back to my bulimic ways, puking up to 3 times a day. i lost all the weight in 6 months except for 8 pounds. 4 days ago i just found out im pregnant again, my bcp failed (it could have been because i would puke too soon after i took it!) even now that i know im pregnant, i always feel really hungry, so i eat ALOT, then feel sick or disgustings and have to purge, as i sit here now, i just ate 2 huge plates at dinner and im fighting the urge. i feel depressed, tired, fat. and this is not normal. i know that for my baby (and yours) we need to get healthy. i am a very good mother to my daughter. but i dont want my kids to grow up like i did (i strongly believe i would not have this problem if my mother wasnt bulimic) im not sure what to do, my last pregnacy i battled this on my own and was healthy, but i went back to it after she was born to lose the weight. i might have to go get some treatment, and maybe you should too, if you think you have a problem you cant control on your own. congrats on the baby and i know everything will be fine!!

I just wanted to give you a hug! My sister struggled with bulemia and anorexia...they are diseases so please know that you are not a bad person you just need to relearn portion size control and a healthy mindset about food..easier said than done but having a support group with a therapist may be the most hopeful at this point.

It sounds like you've come a long way on your own. Good job! like pp's said, maybe some counseling can get you through the rest of the pregnancy and ultimately help you end this altogether. I have a question too, I hope you don't think it's rude but I've wondered about this. I've heard that when a person is bulimic for an extremely long time that eventually your body automatically purges on its own. Is that true? I was wondering if that were the case if there would be any way to stop it. I hope you don't mind my asking